Display options
Cite
Montagni I, Cariou T, Feuillet T, et al. Exploring Digital Health Use and Opinions of University Students: Field Survey Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018;6(3):e65doi: 10.2196/mhealth.9131.
Montagni, I., Cariou, T., Feuillet, T., Langlois, E., & Tzourio, C. (2018). Exploring Digital Health Use and Opinions of University Students: Field Survey Study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 6(3), e65. https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9131
Montagni, Ilaria, et al. "Exploring Digital Health Use and Opinions of University Students: Field Survey Study." JMIR mHealth and uHealth vol. 6,3 (2018): e65. doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/mhealth.9131
Montagni I, Cariou T, Feuillet T, Langlois E, Tzourio C. Exploring Digital Health Use and Opinions of University Students: Field Survey Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018 Mar 15;6(3):e65. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.9131. PMID: 29549071; PMCID: PMC5876492.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018 Mar 15;6(3):e65. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.9131.

Exploring Digital Health Use and Opinions of University Students: Field Survey Study.

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

Ilaria Montagni, Tanguy Cariou, Tiphaine Feuillet, Emmanuel Langlois, Christophe Tzourio

Affiliations

  1. Team HEALTHY, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center (Unité Mixte de Recherche 1219), University of Bordeaux / Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Bordeaux, France.
  2. Science Politique et Sociologie Comparative, Centre Emile Durkheim (Unité Mixte de Recherche 5116), University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.

PMID: 29549071 PMCID: PMC5876492 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.9131

Abstract

BACKGROUND: During university, students face some potentially serious health risks, and their lifestyle can have a direct effect on health and health behaviors later in life. Concurrently, university students are digital natives having easy access to the internet and new technologies. Digital health interventions offer promising new opportunities for health promotion, disease prevention, and care in this specific population. The description of the current use of and opinions on digital health among university students can inform future digital health strategies and interventions within university settings.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this exploratory study was to report on university students' use and opinions regarding information and communication technologies for health and well-being, taking into account sociodemographic and self-rated general and mental health correlates.

METHODS: This field survey was conducted from March to April 2017. An informed consent form and a paper questionnaire were given to students aged 18 to 24 years in 4 university campuses in Bordeaux, France. The survey was formulated in 3 sections: (1) sociodemographic characteristics and self-rated general and mental health, (2) information about the use of digital health, and (3) opinions about digital health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and tests of independence.

RESULTS: A total of 59.8% (303/507 females) students completed the questionnaire. Concerning digital health use, 34.9% (174/498) had at least 1 health app mostly for physical activity (49.4%, 86/174) and general health monitoring (41.4%, 72/174,), but only 3.9% (20/507) of students had a wearable device. Almost all (94.8%, 450/476) had searched for Web-based health-related information at least once in the last 12 months. The most sought health-related topics were nutrition (68.1%, 324/476); pain and illnesses (64.5%, 307/476); and stress, anxiety, or depression (51.1%, 243/476). Although Wikipedia (79.7%, 357/448) and general health websites (349/448, 77.9%) were the most consulted sources, students considered institutional or official websites as the most credible sources (309/335, 92.2%). There were significant differences in digital health use by gender, field, and year of study. No statistically significant association was found between digital health use and self-rated general and mental health status. Concerning opinions on digital health, although 94.1% (475/505) of students estimated that today's digital health cannot replace traditional health services and medical consultations, 44.6% (207/464) of students declared that this could be possible in the future, provided that digital health interventions are promoted by institutional or official entities.

CONCLUSIONS: University students are largely using the internet for health information seeking, but using less mobile health apps and very few wearable devices. Our data suggest that digital health has the potential for improving health and well-being at the university, especially if digital health interventions take into account students' profiles, interests, and needs.

©Ilaria Montagni, Tanguy Cariou, Tiphaine Feuillet, Emmanuel Langlois, Christophe Tzourio. Originally published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 15.03.2018.

Keywords: Internet; eHealth; mHealth; mobile application; students; surveys

References

  1. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2011 Jul;72(4):622-32 - PubMed
  2. Prev Med Rep. 2015 Apr 01;2:229-34 - PubMed
  3. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Nov 04;3(4):e101 - PubMed
  4. J Med Internet Res. 2017 Jun 19;19(6):e218 - PubMed
  5. J Med Internet Res. 2014 May 13;16(5):e128 - PubMed
  6. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Jun 22;17(6):e156 - PubMed
  7. Online J Public Health Inform. 2014 Feb 05;5(3):229 - PubMed
  8. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2016 Jun;5(2):106-18 - PubMed
  9. BMJ. 2000 Jun 24;320(7251):1713-6 - PubMed
  10. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 May 1;171(5):461-469 - PubMed
  11. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Apr 18;15(4):e86 - PubMed
  12. Am J Health Promot. 2012 Nov-Dec;27(2):e47-58 - PubMed
  13. J Adolesc Health. 2010 Jan;46(1):3-10 - PubMed
  14. J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Nov;110(11):1723-7 - PubMed
  15. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015 Mar 01;12:31 - PubMed
  16. J Med Internet Res. 2017 Jan 10;19(1):e15 - PubMed
  17. JMIR Res Protoc. 2017 Feb 16;6(2):e24 - PubMed
  18. Digit Health. 2017 Nov 09;3:2055207617740018 - PubMed
  19. J Med Internet Res. 2013 May 27;15(5):e101 - PubMed
  20. BMC Public Health. 2015 Feb 28;15:201 - PubMed
  21. J Public Health Med. 2000 Dec;22(4):492-9 - PubMed
  22. JMIR Ment Health. 2015 Feb 11;2(1):e2 - PubMed
  23. Comput Inform Nurs. 2012 Aug;30(8):402-8 - PubMed
  24. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2015 Feb 24;10:5 - PubMed
  25. Health Inf Manag. 2016 Apr;45(1):5-15 - PubMed
  26. Int J Telemed Appl. 2017;2017:1756473 - PubMed
  27. Am J Health Behav. 2014 Nov;38(6):860-70 - PubMed
  28. Health Promot Int. 2015 Sep;30(3):736-45 - PubMed
  29. J Am Coll Health. 2013;61(1):28-35 - PubMed

Publication Types